Searching for Beautiful(112)

Wolfe let go, burying himself deep and spilling his seed. His hips jerked as the stinging satisfaction rolled over him in waves, dragging him under.

Spent, he kissed her belly, her lips, stroked her damp hair back. Looked into her eyes, the gorgeous navy blue that beckoned him to give in, give over, and love her completely.

“Have I told you how much I adore your communication skills?”

She smiled, wrapped her arms around him, and kissed him.





twenty-four

GENEVIEVE SKIPPED UP the steps like she had so many times as a child. “Hurry up, we’re late.”

Wolfe trailed behind her, shaking his head in amusement. “Whose fault is that? I was dressed and ready. You’re the one who came out of the shower all wet and naked and inviting.”

Heat burned her cheeks. Unbelievable she could still blush. He’d stripped away all modesty and barriers with his voracious sexual appetite and adoring appreciation for her body. Gen had never felt so gorgeous, even with her full curves. Even knowing he’d dated skinny models. It was if she was finally coming into her body in her late twenties, enjoying her own unique assets and not looking to be someone else.

“Shush, someone may hear you.”

She ignored his low, sexy laugh and flung open the door. Now that things with David were a bit more settled, Gen was looking forward to spending quality time with her family without the crippling guilt. She’d moved on. David had moved on. Maybe her father would finally stop calling her with concerned questions and hopeful suggestions to contact David to try and work things out. Maybe he’d finally soften toward Wolfe, though she intended to keep their new relationship a secret.

Jim MacKenzie lit up and gathered her in a big bear hug. “About time. I was about to eat all the antipasto by myself.”

“Mom has my back. Bet she hid some pepperoni just for me.”

“I did!” came the yell from the kitchen.

Jim’s smile slid off his face when he caught Wolfe standing behind her. He stiffened and gave him a polite nod. “Wolfe.”

“Jim. How are you? Thanks for inviting me.”

“Fine, thank you. Maria was the one who extended the invite.”

Gen winced. Ouch. Her father was one of the kindest people she knew. His job as an alcoholism counselor put him in touch with varying types and he rarely held judgment. But something about Wolfe turned him into a stranger. She deliberately caught Wolfe’s hand and led him inside. A show of unity. A silent back off to her dad.

Jim frowned.

“The whole crew here?” she asked, walking into the living room, where appetizers were already laid out and bottles of red and white wine were breathing. Her twelve-year-old niece, Taylor, was texting on her phone at the same time she bopped to music on her player.

Gen walked over and waved a hand in front of her. The blond-haired angel grinned, tore off her earbuds, and gave her a hug. “Hi, Aunt Gen! Hi, Wolfe. Aunt Gen, you are not going to believe it. I swear you will absolutely hit-the-floor die right now when you hear.”

She assumed her serious face. “Tell me.”

Taylor’s bright blue eyes gleamed with a secret. Oh boy. She knew that look well. She and Izzy had perfected the art. “I’m going to Paris.”

Whoa. “Are you kidding me? Your mother’s letting you travel overseas? For what?”

“There’s a special foreign-language transfer student program I want to sign up for. I spend the month in Paris, learning French and the customs, and stay with a family. Do you believe this?”

Gen looked around for intervention from her insane brother and sister-in-law. This could not be possible. “When are you going?”

“When I’m sixteen.”

Relief sagged her shoulders. Wow, that was a close call. “So, you’re telling me in only four years you’re going to live in Paris, learning French and being generally fabulous?”

“Yes!”

“I can’t believe it! I’m so excited!” She jumped up and down with Taylor, squealing and holding hands, while Wolfe laughed behind them. “I’m so coming to visit you.”

“Totally.”

Lance and Gina came in from the backyard, and they launched into a discussion about traveling and how Maria never allowed them to go farther than the next-door neighbor’s.

“I don’t understand these children today.” Her mother sighed, setting down a tray of bruschetta in front of them. Wolfe dove at the same time as her father, and Wolfe jerked back, allowing him the win. “What’s wrong with staying home? Plenty of time to do traveling later in life. You all turned out fine.”

Lance kicked back in the chair, feet propped up on the worn ottoman. “Gina may disagree with you, Mom. Says I have issues.”